They had been cut off to transport the aircraft to the Carolinas Aviation Museum in Charlotte where the plane is now on display. The wings will be lifted by a crane onto a stand, which will then be bolted to the plane.

For aviation enthusiasts, the work is well worth it.

“For us, to get this final piece of the puzzle put back together is exciting, especially too for the visitors because when they come in, now they see plane as a whole,” said Wally Coppinger, executive director of the Carolinas Aviation Museum.